The Norton Commando Arrives

There is a 1973, 750 Commando sitting in my Dads garage. He rode it at least once a week until about a month before he passed at the age of 92. My brother-in-law rides it now and smirks when he sends me pictures. He's 71.

You showed the Norton in its natural environment. Round the block for a coffee and a pose.

Another great video. One comment - (I grew up in London during the 50’s and 60’s and started riding bikes long before I was legally allowed to 🤫) - I never met anyone during that time who rode a Norton because of the comfort factor. They “suffered” riding a Norton because it was a Norton. 😁🇦🇺👍

Its not even got an led headlight but my goodness its utterly beautiful.

I was blessed to own and enjoy 5 Nortons. An ES2 single made in 1955, an Atlas model from 1965, 3 Commandos -1970, ‘73 and a very short term stent with a ‘75 electric start. Overall, a wonderful experience that cemented my loyalty and fondness for this iconic marque. Memories are hinted on each ride on my substantially modified Royal Enfield Interceptor.

Everyone forgets about the Triumph Thruxton, another great modern classic bike

Dude, the way you talk is just a pleasure on its own, regardless of the content. (But we all know the way you talk is because of the content)

I knew you would be grinning ear to ear with this one, Freddie. The exhaust note is superb. Real character.

I'm sorry: that thing is simply gorgeous. Gorgeous looking. Gorgeous sounding. Screw the flashers. Glorious.

That is what I like about you, Freddie. You tell it like it is... Cool looking bike.

Are they quirks - or are they faults? They are faults. I’ve always wanted to like the “new” Nortons, but I can’t help thinking the company is taking the “P” out of us! A great example Freddie…. Yes - they look like Ali Express indicators. £3 a pair! The bike definitely has flashes of beauty but….. we are constantly being reminded of the history of a completely different company that has long gone. I want to like it, but sadly I just can’t.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think it’s a stunning looking bike

To me it looks like a home made parts bin special. My friend called it a "crashed satellite" 😂

That is quite likely the best sounding bike engine i've ever heard. The pegs are rearset because it's a cafe' racer. That also explains the seating position. It's a retro performance bike, that's all it's 'sposed to do. This one isn't for 2 up riding, or touring. It's for riding to work on nice days and going for a ride to the cafe' on warm, sunny Sunday mornings.

I grew up in a small village in a small western european country. At the far end of this village, on the edge of everything, almost in the fields, was a little bike shop. The small and most simple showroom was full of beautiful bikes. I cannot count how many times we stopped in front of the showroom or the open repair shop to spend time there with the other boys. At age 8, I fell in love with Norton. The most beautiful mechanic constructions there are. The shop still exists today and has not changed a bit for the last 40 years. It is not in England. I cannot afford one of this old beauties. Maybe I should try and get one of those?

Very special bike, you are very lucky to get your hands on such a machine. Well done ❤

Hi Freddie interesting video, always enjoy watching your videos, 97 years on my 1927 Norton 16h flat tanker is still here still being ridden I rode her through last winter an same for my 1967 Norton 650SS (one of the finest British twins ever made as Phil Reed said in the 1964 brochure handling from the featherbed frame as good as a Manx! when he won production races on the 650ss) I'm also restoring a ww2 Norton 16h and a 1968 Commando. I daily rode for 4 years n 4 winters the Norton 650SS through thunderstorms an winter's which outlasted alot of modern bikes, an provided total reliability until a nerve injury stopped me kickstarting for a while (none bike related). Just sticking a few videos up filmed on that over the past 7 years or so. I'm actually restoring one of the first 70 Norton Commando's at the moment from 1968 an it has to be said they are so so so smooth to ride when the Iso's are set right an that was with mine having an engine fault when I bought it due to a mistake by the previous owner. The original concept of the Norton Commando was to make it super smooth via the revolutionary Isolastic system, it actually won Motorcycle of the year for 5 years on the run by Motorcycle News in the 60s and 70s. A design that Harley went on to riff off with the Electra Glides, a former Norton employee was inoled with that. The First Norton Commando was actually made by Norton as Norton Villiers LTD an the later by Norton Villiers Triumph. Then they had amazing success with the F1 Rotaries later on which is often forgotten about. For something marketed at 17k it's a shame they are still fitting such low end bits like the indicators an still making the mistake with the infils, an seat it's a shame that they still are not thinking about those of us that use bikes regularly, the seat on the 650ss and Commando are all day comfortable something that's missing from alot of bikes, I think that's something that's really missing from the current Norton range proper all day comfort an bikes for being ridden year round not just looked at. I nearly bought a 961 in the SG era one of the sport models an luckily I didn't alot of people were absolutely exploited both on bikes that never turned up or bikes that were stripped for parts one of my friends only ended up with his frame back, and the pensions (which you got a details wrong on) an were then left high an dry by TVS one of the largest companies in the world to produce motorcycles. A company of there size although there was no obligation to could have been sorted out for me these things shouldn't be brushed under the carpet as I know who were truly left with no help. Luckily theres a great independent specialist in the 961's by Stu Motorvated who got left with no support. Leaves a bitter taste in alot of peoples mouths and would stop me from buying one as it stands. I do hope they make a go of it, One worry recently was a V4SS that was a current build bike delivered 23/24 that went at a well known auction house for 22k an hadn't been ridden. For me it's hard to move away from the original Commando's absolutely epic sound from a 360 degree engine and so so easy to work on with great parts availability. I really really hope as someone you cut in half would say Norton that they don't forget the ethos from Pa Norton, to paraphrase, from one of the 1920s brochures although we have the high performance ohv models these will remain a low production bike, The Norton although for the expert always had a bike like the Big4 in the range Pa Norton's favourite for the everyday rider as Norton termed it in the period, which people would use to take the family out on the weekend or go to work on. For me the core of the Norton Brand was a 360 degree twin an a good long stroke sporting single. I hope they don't forget that or the newer younger riders alot of my friends are riding Royal Enfields. I think it's important to capture the riders earlier on.

Thank you TVS for steadying the reins, but letting the ride be and the rider exalt.

There is no beauty without flaws

Sorry, quality hand made should not have quirks. We were taught to make it right or don't make it. Even screw head slots had to align. A lock that is not centred is not a quirk it is bad workmanship. To be honest I find the bike less than impressive and certainly not up to the original's standard. A good way to start and argument would be to ask which bike ruled the road in the fifties and sixties, it wasn't the Norton Commando.